Have you ever heard the phrase “You have to make a mess to clean up a mess”? Okay, maybe you haven’t, but I say it all the time. When cleaning out my fridge, my kitchen is a mess until I complete the task. When we do our spring and fall garage cleaning, the cars get moved out and we proceed to make a mess. But at the end of the day (or of day two or three), everything has a home, either in the trash, in the donation bin, or back on the shelf in a tote. The mess has been cleaned up. This is such a good feeling, right?
In the physical sense, some people are messier than others. I grew up in a home where my parents were organized and tidy. Things had a place, dishes were done regularly, dusting was done every Saturday (by me), and our car was washed. Not every home or car was cleaned like my family’s was. But even if the dishes were not done or if you could write your name in the dust because a few Saturdays went by, it didn’t make it less of a home. I don’t know about you, but depending on what you are used to, this will oftentimes determine how you live. And other times, we become the opposite of what we were used to.
Let’s look at this from a spiritual perspective. I grew up in a Christian home. My dad was a pastor and my mom was a stay-at-home beautiful pastor’s wife who played the piano and organ, taught Sunday School, and made delicious meals for missionaries and evangelists. I accepted Jesus as my friend at 13 when I realized that growing up in a Christian home didn’t save me. Some people grow up in the opposite situation where there is no spiritual guidance and they never step into a church. Others have had early trauma, heartache, and dysfunction. We tend to look at these very different situations and judge the outcome of life for that person based on these differences. And maybe you once did this, but do not now, because you have learned some important spiritual truths.
This year's Camp Journey, entitled What A Mess, was a reminder to all 40 amazing volunteers that it’s God who takes the messes in our lives and cleans them up. Seventy-five kids also learned this important truth directly from God’s Word in four fun-filled nights. If you had walked in and seen Abundant Life Church without knowing what was going on during the last week of July, you would have judged our church as quite a mess! Well, the truth is, yes, many of the rooms were a physical mess, but the people that come here are as well. Yes, you heard me right. We are all a mess. Yes, even me, the one who grew up in a seemingly great situation. At Camp Journey, we all were reminded that the world is a messy place because of sin and we have ALL fallen short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23) It started with Adam and Eve and continues today. Plain and simple. The disobedience of mankind is what started the messiness that affects the entire world.
Even though God’s plan was perfection, the kids learned that God loves messy people. Even when we mess up or have circumstances in our lives that are not within our control. Even when we don’t have enough faith to believe. The rich man in the Bible was asked to sell it all and follow Jesus. He couldn’t do it. It was too hard. He felt he had too much to give up. I imagine that even as the rich man was walking away in his unbelief, he knew Jesus loved him. The memory verse on Night 2 was plain and simple: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
The lesson on Night 3 was important for kids to learn because let’s face it, sometimes we do not want to think of ourselves as sinners. It’s a harsh word. At times we lack humility and become prideful of who we are or what we have accomplished. Or maybe we are too prideful to admit when we have done wrong. Either way, the children and leaders heard about the Pharisee and the tax collector who were praying in the temple. The Pharisee, who was religious, was the proud one. The tax collector, who everyone hated, was the humble one. You see, God wants us to be honest about our messes. We all have our own set of messes. The tax collector was forgiven because he was honest and prayed a simple prayer to ask forgiveness of his sins, and Jesus forgave him. Many of the children asked Jesus to forgive them and clean up the messes in their lives. The memory verse says it all, real plain: If we confess our sins, he (Jesus) will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
Once we become honest with our messes and realize that confessing them to Jesus is a step of faith (and a good one at that), we realize that God’s grace covers up our messes because of what Jesus went through - being brutally beaten, hung on a cross to suffer and die, and rising again. Our Bible Movie Theater experience made clear what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God. (1 John 3:1). We have earthly parents. But to have a Heavenly Father who loves us so much that we become His child is the next level! So even if our messes are out of control and feel too big to begin to clean up, we are assured that we don’t have to do it alone. Just like the prodigal son, who ran far away from the one who loved him deeply, and eventually returned because he knew he was broken. His father freely welcomed him and gave him new clothes, a special ring, a party, and forgiveness! The kids now know that is what our Heavenly Father does for us!
The lesson learned from Night 4 is one that can easily be forgotten, though we certainly hope it wasn’t by the kids or the leaders. We all must remember that other people are messy too, and we should forgive like Jesus! This one isn’t so simple. The brother in the story of the prodigal son really struggled. He boasted that he had done the right thing by sticking around and helping the father, adding that he hadn’t caused such grief. But what was his sin? Pride. These kids were not too young to learn about the sin of pride. Thinking we are better or haven’t sinned like someone else is pride that needs forgiving. We are also reminded that to forgive others who have caused us pain and heartache, even loss, is crucial to having freedom in Christ. If Jesus can forgive you, then you must forgive others. Bear with each other and forgive one another as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13) This was the last memory verse the kids were encouraged to learn. We come full circle when we remember the scripture taught on the first night: ALL have sinned. Not some have sinned, or most have sinned, but ALL have sinned. The only one who never sinned is Jesus. He is the only one who can and will clean up our messes.
This year’s Camp Journey was messy! It was full of very messy activities. It included a messy art project that turned into a masterpiece. The kids learned how missions can be messy. And messy snacks were a big hit in our mouths! Even our Bible theater was allowed to get messed up with popcorn and candy! From our time of praise and worship, to the skits, the bubbles and cotton candy, and of course to our splat time on the last night which raised a bunch of money for Michaela, we sure had the best time making messes! We are also grateful for all those wonderful team members who cleaned up our mess! You truly are the hands and feet of Jesus! Thank you to everyone who made our week amazing!
Are you glad we are not alone in our messy life? I am!
